Page 16 of Just Heartbeats (Royalla Motorcycle Club #1)

The garage door groaned to a stop behind him, sealing in the criminal activities that took place after hours.

Kodiak wiped his hands on a rag, having waited until Roma left to begin preparing everything for shipping.

The truck would be here by midnight to pick up the chopped parts and transport them.

He rounded the stripped-down Honda. "Duke, start wrapping the panels. Ring can get the crates ready. I'll open the storage room so you can get the containers."

They moved fast. No questions were asked.

They'd dealt with stolen parts for almost twelve years now.

As more one-percenters made changes to stay out of prison, they'd turned to stolen goods rather than drugs and women.

It was the way of the world now, and every motorcycle club was desperate to retain its territory and contacts.

Kodiak entered the office and flicked the light switch on the wall. The usual clutter was gone. Over the past few weeks, Roma cleaned, organized, and rearranged the furniture. She had things running more smoothly lately.

Now that the guys could keep working and Roma handled the paperwork, they were getting things done more quickly. The men were happy.

He walked to the back of the room and frowned. The small hook where the storage room keys hung was empty.

He stared for a second, jaw ticking. The last person he knew who'd been in there was Roma when she had to refill toilet paper in the restroom.

Kodiak turned without thinking and headed across the compound toward the clubhouse. He needed the keys so they wouldn't fall behind schedule. If they weren't ready, the truck would leave without the parts, and they'd run out of money for the month. He had a lot of men counting on him.

The clubhouse was quiet. Most of the men were working. Those at the compound were in the garage, preparing the shipment.

He walked down the hallway and stopped outside Roma's room.

Turning the handle, the door creaked softly as he pushed it open and stepped inside. The air was warmer here, scented faintly with sweet vanilla or whatever lotion she always wore that tended to linger after she left the room.

Striding across the floor, he stuck his head into the open doorway of the bedroom. All the blood rushed out of his head. He should've knocked.

He.

Should've.

Fucking.

Knocked.

Roma was on her bed, half-dressed, legs spread as she leaned back against the pillows. In her hand was something small and unmistakable—vibrating low enough that he could hear it even over the pounding in his ears. Her other hand moved slowly between her thighs, guiding, teasing. Exploring.

Kodiak should have backed out, closed the door, and walked away like a man with any damn sense of self-control.

But his body refused to move. The blood in his veins grew hot and heavy, thick with arousal. He'd never wanted anything more than to stay there and see what she'd do next. He bit his tongue. Her name burned behind his ribs like a brand.

And then she looked at him.

No shock. No shame. Just a slow, knowing curve of her mouth—like she had waited for this exact moment her whole life.

Her hand never paused. The toy in her palm softly hummed against her skin, and her breath caught slightly, as if seeing him had heightened her pleasure.

As if he were part of her fantasy now.

Kodiak's jaw clenched. "Where are the keys, Roma?"

Her eyelids drooped halfway, lashes casting shadows on her flushed cheeks. Her answer was a breath.

Kodiak stood at the threshold of her room, tense and breathing heavily. The sight of her, the way she moved, and how her eyes never left his had to be the most erotic sight he'd ever seen. And dangerous. Jesus Christ. He wanted her.

Roma blinked slowly. She pressed the vibrator in a little deeper, the muscles in her inner thighs twitching. Her lips parted around a sound that tumbled out from deep in her soul.

And he felt it like a shot to the chest.

This wasn't about retrieving the keys. Not anymore.

This was about control.

About every moment, he'd circled Roma, too careful, too proud, too fucking loyal to Chopper to touch his little girl. And now she was daring him to cross a line he'd spent too long putting in place because he knew if he touched her, he'd get burnt.

Kodiak stepped into the room, slow and heavy, like his body had a mind of its own. "You're playing a dangerous game, Roma." His chest rose and fell like he'd come from a fight. "You can't do this to me."

Roma's lips parted.

She was playing to win.

Her breath was ragged now, hips lifting into her hand, the vibrator trailing slick and slow across her wet pussy. Her head dropped back against the pillow, but her gaze never left him.

He could see it now, under the defiance.

The need.

Not to be watched.

But to be seen.

To be undone sexually.

His fingers flexed at his sides, every nerve in his body pulled tight. She was everything he shouldn't touch and everything he couldn't fucking stop thinking about.

He moved to the edge of the bed and looked down at her like she was the only thing in the world worth dying for. And, she was. And, he would.

"Tell me to walk away." He growled.

Roma looked up at him with wide eyes. "Do you like watching me?"

Her voice cracked on the last word, barely above a whisper. That fracture in her bravery undid him. It was that flicker of realness behind all her teasing that he latched onto. His answer would shape the rest of her life.

He dropped to one knee beside the bed, his hand sliding up her thigh. She gasped as he gripped her leg, thumb pressing hard enough to remind her how dangerous he could be.

"Look at you," he muttered, eyes dragging over her. "Fucking all grown up."

Roma's lips parted, her breath stuttering as his fingers brushed the edge of her hand. She still held the toy, trembling now. He took it from her gently and set it aside.

"How often do you use your little friend?" He ran the pad of his thumb over her wet pussy lips.

She gasped. "I-I just bought it."

"Mm." He lowered his head and inhaled deeply.

Her sweet scent grabbed him by the balls. He wanted to sink his thumb inside of her. Test to see how tight she'd be around his finger. Yet, he'd watched her with the vibrator. She wasn't used to putting anything inside of her.

"Tell me to stop, Roma," he said.

He skimmed her clit. She squirmed on the bed. He'd barely touched her, and she was ready to come.

"Oh, God, don't ever stop. Please, Kodiak." She grabbed his wrist. "Please help me."

She wanted to come. He wanted to taste her.

He slid his hand under her thigh and spread her legs. She gasped over the sudden movement. He took her surprise and dipped his head, swiping his tongue along her pussy.

Her legs vibrated under his hands. She pushed against his mouth, opening herself to him. Whether her arousal made her uninhibited or she was born to have sex, nothing held her back.

He took her clit into his mouth, suckling gently at first, then increasing the pressure.

Her hips bucked against his face. He could have had her come on his face, but he wanted to build her up.

If she wanted to experiment, he'd show her how it could be with him.

He could make her scream better than that little toy of hers.

She gripped the comforter, her body tensing. "Kodiak?"

Her back arched, and she threw her head back into the pillow, crying out his name. A flash of wetness coated his tongue. He continued circling, stroking, and tasting until the tremors subsided. He kissed the inside of her thigh, trying to stop the pounding of his heart.

He'd claimed her in the most intimate way possible, and his cock was hard as a rock. He needed to get out of here before he showed her everything else.

"Kodiak?" she whispered, going still.

He pushed to his feet, grabbed the spare blanket at the foot of the bed, and covered her up to her waist. "Take a nap."

"But—"

"The club needs me." He kissed her forehead.

He walked out of her room before he changed his mind. His balls ached. He was covered in Roma's juice. There was no fucking way he could stay and excuse what happened.

Walking across the hall, he entered his room, stripped off his clothes, and stepped under the shower.

With the smell of Roma in his nose and her flavor on his tongue, he gripped his cock and jerked hard and fast. The pleasure was punishment and pain.

He couldn't go backward now that he'd tasted her.